An Expert Strategy for Bonus Poker

Rules

Essentially, Bonus Poker is extremely easy to play, but only if you know what hands are strong. There are a total of eleven types of winning hands. If you do not have one of the hands below, you will not win. The hands are listed from weakest to strongest:

• Jacks or Better: The weakest hand which contains at least a pair of Jacks.
• Two Pair: Any hand that contains at least two pairs, for instance two 5s and two 8s.
• Three of a Kind: Any hand that has at least three cards with the same value, for instance three 7s.
• Straight: A hand that has a run of five consecutive numbers, for instance 6, 7, 8, 9, 10. Aces can be used at both the start and end of the sequence.
• Flush: A hand that has five cards from the same suit, for instance 3, 4, 7, Jack, King of Spades.
• Full House: Any hand that contains a three of a kind and a pair. An example of this is three 4s and two 10s.
• 4 of a Kind: A hand that contains four 5s, 6s, 7s, 8s, 9s, 10s, Js, Qs or Ks.
• 4 of a Kind 2s, 3s or 4s: A hand that contains four 2s, 3s or 4s.
• 4 of a Kind Aces: A hand that contains four Aces of any suit.
• Straight Flush: A hand that contains five consecutive cards that have the same suit. An example of this is 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9 of Clubs.
• Royal Flush: A hand that has a flush whilst also the strongest value cards. Any of these would work: 10, J, Q, K, A of Spades, Hearts, Clubs or Diamonds.

Pay Outs

When playing Bonus Poker, the payouts will not always be the same. Some versions of the game may offer more than others. The standard, however, is that a Royal Flush pays 250:1. If you are betting with the maximum 5 coins, this increases to 800:1. Likewise, the bonus paid for the 4 of a Kind hands will also vary a lot. It depends on which casino and version of the game you are playing.

Inside and Outside Straights

It is not massively important to know the difference between Inside and Outside Straights but the terminology could help you later on when looking at different strategies. Essentially, both of them are used to refer to hands that you will try to change into a Straight. The difference is, how you achieve that. Outside Straights mean that there are two possible ways to form a straight, while Inside Straights have just one. Here is an example:

• Outside Straight: Your hand is 5, 7, A, 6, 4. That means, by changing the A, you will have a straight if you receive either 3 or 8.
• Inside Straight: Your hand is 3, Q, 6, 7, 5. That means by changing the Q, you will have a straight only if you receive a 4.

Bonus Poker Strategy

It is possible to use a mathematical strategy when playing Bonus Poker. You can always calculate the chances of winning based on which cards have appeared. The reason behind this is that you know which cards are displayed and how many cards are in a pack. Thus, applying basic Bonus Poker strategy is not too difficult and can be used for every round.

With a bit of practice, you will familiarize yourself with the basic strategy. Essentially, after your cards have been dealt, you should consider your cards and find a hand that matches yours. Start at the top of the list below and work your way down. As soon as you find an applicable option, that is the play you should make.

• 4 of a Kind, Straight, Royal Flush: If you are dealt any of these hands, keep your cards as they are as they do not get better than that.
• 4 to a Royal Flush: If you are dealt four cards for a Royal Flush, you try and replace the final card to get the full Royal Flush.
• Straight, Flush, Full House: Whenever you are dealt one of these hands, you should keep your hand as it is.
• 3 of a Kind: When you are dealt this hand, keep the three cards as they will guarantee a payout. Discard the rest in hope that you can improve that hand to a Full House or 4 of a Kind.
• 4 to a Straight Flush: When you are dealt this hand, you should keep the four cards and hope that this fifth will either complete the Straight Flush or at least give you a Straight or Flush.
• 2 Pairs: If you receive this hand, keep the two pairs and replace the fifth card to hopefully claim a Full House.
• A Pair of Jacks, Queens, Kings or Aces: If you are dealt any one of these pairs, keep the pair and discard the rest, in hope of a 3 of a Kind, 4 of a Kind or Full House.
• 3 to a Royal Flush: When you are dealt this hand, keep the three and replace the other two.
• 4 to a Flush: If you are dealt this hand, discard the one card that stops you from the Flush.
• KQJT Unsuited: Discard the one card that is not one of these in hope for a Straight or High Pair.
• Low Pair: Keep the pair and discard the rest, hoping for a 3 or 4 of a Kind.
• 4 to an Outside Straight: Keep hold of the four cards and discard the 5th, hoping it will complete the Straight.
• 3 to a Straight Flush: Discard two cards that do not complete the Straight Flush and hope they will replace to either give you a Straight, Flush or Straight Flush.
• AKQJ Unsuited: Discard the card that does not complete this in hope for a Straight or High Pair.
• 2 Suited High Cards: Discard the fifth card in hope of a Royal Flush or any other hand.
• 3 to a Straight Flush: Discard the two cards in hope of a Straight Flush with no high cards or gaps.
• 4 to an Inside Straight with 3 High Cards: Keep the 3 high cards and hope for a Straight, or at least a High Pair.
• Unsuited JQK: Discard the two cards and hope for a Straight or at least a High Pair.
• Unsuited JQ: Discard three cards in hope of a Straight or a High Pair.
• KQ, KJ Unsuited: Hope for a Straight or High Pair.
• JT Suited: Discard 3 cards in hope of a Pair of Jacks, Straight, Flush, Straight Flush or Royal Flush.
• AK, AQ, AJ Unsuited: Discard three cards for a Straight or at least a High Pair or Two Pair.
• Ace: Discard all cards that do not match but keep the Ace as it is strong.
• KT, QT Suited: Hope for a Straight, Flush or High Pair.
• Jack, Queen or King: Hope for a high pair or better.

Conclusion

The chart is quite extensive and can seem rather challenging at first. However, once you become familiar with it, you will know what actions to take when playing Bonus Poker. If you play with the basic strategy chart, it is advisable to also consider your budget and bankroll. Simply follow the chart, which will almost become second nature after a bit of practice, and you should be fine.